Poland launches treason investigation against ex-defense minister

Poland has launched an investigation against former Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz in a case of diplomatic treason. This was reported on January 3 in the press service of the National Prosecutor's Office of Poland.

"Based on the evidence obtained, the prosecutor on January 2, 2025 opened an investigation into the actions committed from November 2015 to October 2016 to the detriment of the Republic of Poland by the former Minister of National Defense, authorized to act on behalf of the Republic of Poland," - said in a statement.

It is noted that the harm to the country was caused by the fact of withdrawal from the program for the purchase of refueling aircraft in 2016. The actions of Macierewicz caused damage to the property of the Ministry of Defense of Poland for a total amount of more than € 473 thousand, which were spent in preparation for joining the program for the purchase of aircraft.

The notification was sent to the Mazowieckie office of the Office for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption in Warsaw for procedural review. As part of the verification proceedings, relevant documentation was obtained and Jarosław Strzyżyk was questioned as a witness.

The agency added that "diplomatic treason" is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Earlier, on 23 August 2024, the Ukrainian daily Strana.ua reported that Poland had arrested in absentia the former head of the government agency for strategic reserves, Michal Kuczmerowski, in a case over the implementation of a €114m grant from the European Union (EU) to supply generators for Ukraine's needs.